TSHNL 53

Chapter 53:

He was a natural speaker—each word spoken with care, as if painting a dazzlingly beautiful picture with his words.

“You can go anywhere, do anything, and enjoy every pleasure the world has to offer for the rest of your life.”

He grinned again and held out his hand to me, as if sure I wouldn’t be able to refuse.

“Well? If I help you…”

“I don’t want to.”

“…What?”

The look of near ecstasy on Igard’s face twisted instantly into one of shock.

I shook my head firmly.

So that’s all it was?

Once I heard him out to the end, I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. It wasn’t just because I had no interest in the ducal title.

Having lived a previous life, I knew all too well how empty his vision of “heaven” truly was.

Even in that past life, some elders opposed Calista and tried to make me the successor.

Igard had died early back then, but some of his relatives had taken his place as the main instigators.

The stronger Calista’s influence became, the more persistently they spread rumors that I was the heir our father truly wanted.

That movement didn’t stop even while I stayed with the family—or after I ran away and Father fell from power.

“My fiancée is the rightful heir of House Luperne.”

Klein had used that to his advantage.

I recalled the words Igard had just spoken: the vast grain fields of the south, the beautiful eastern coast, the splendid villa near the capital…

In the past life, none of that existed.

A war over the succession to House Luperne had reduced it all to ashes.

No one had enjoyed a lifetime of pleasures. It all ended the moment I died.

In short, it was all meaningless talk.

“Did you… just say no?”

Igard stared at me, wide-eyed, as if he hadn’t expected that answer. I must have played a more important role in his plan than I thought.

I gave another bitter smile.

“You’re the kind of person anyone can easily use.”

That’s what Calista had told me the night Vittoria was kidnapped, in the corner kitchen of the banquet hall.

She was right. That hadn’t changed from the last life to this one.

Many wanted to bring Calista down, and the first weapon they always reached for… was me.

I was beginning to understand, just a little, why Calista had felt she had to kill me in that life.

I shrugged and shook my head.

Honestly, even if I hadn’t experienced a past life—it was still pointless.

Maybe in the old days, I might have considered it. But now, being closer to Calista, I knew just how grueling and overwhelming the responsibilities of a family head were.

Especially in recent days—she’d been buried in documents for some meeting preparation, barely visible.

Meanwhile, I’d been lounging around, reading books.

And that… that was happiness.

“Yes. I don’t want it.”

I stated clearly and took a step back from him.

“Please reconsider. If I pull the right strings, even Her Majesty the Empress could support—”

This time, I raised a finger and wagged it left and right. Perhaps thinking me arrogant, Igard’s face scrunched even more.

So he was close with the Empress, huh? In the previous life, I recall his relatives were the ones contacting Klein.

I took another step back and turned toward the door.

I wasn’t curious to hear what else he had to say. I just didn’t want to keep looking at that fake smile.

Just as I was about to push the door open—

“Have you… never wished to turn back time?”

His voice caught my ear.

“…What?”

“Exactly what I said. If there were a treasure that could turn back time, wouldn’t you want to have it?”

My heart pounded.

A treasure that could grant regression? Could it really exist?

I remembered reading something about such a gem in a book when I’d first regressed, but it hadn’t seemed credible at the time.

“The legendary treasure—the Dragon’s Eye—is here, in this ducal house.”

Igard took a step toward me, closing the gap I had so carefully maintained.

“The late Duke personally gifted it to Lady Calista. Even His Grace doesn’t know about this.”

Gone was the flattery and temptation. His tone had changed completely. The resolute look in his eyes made it seem like he was telling the truth.

“You could hold in your hand the one item that can undo any mistake—just once. If you take my hand.”

He extended it toward me again.

A few seconds passed, but his hand stayed in place. His burning gaze urged me to answer quickly.

“…I’m not going to take it.”

My voice was firmer than his. Without waiting for a response, I turned away.

I did hesitate for a moment—but his offer wasn’t worth considering.

I couldn’t even believe Calista possessed such an item to begin with, and even if she did, it had nothing to do with me.

Maybe in a past life, but not this one.

Because now… I had more things I wanted to protect.

There was no reason to give up the hard-won happiness I had.

Creak—

I opened the kitchen door. Just as I stepped into the hallway that led to the stairs, I heard Igard’s voice once more.

“Don’t you… want to see your mother again?”

There was a desperate sincerity in his tone, like he couldn’t believe I wouldn’t stop.

“What if you could use the Dragon’s Eye to bring your birth mother back to life? If you went back to when you were a baby… it might be possible.”

He was relentless, unwilling to let go.

Well… I hadn’t thought of that. But—

Creak—

Without stopping, I pushed the door fully open and walked out.

“Young Lady!”

Should I turn around?

I hesitated, then finally turned to face him and replied.

“…Not really.”

I mean, wasn’t that obvious?

Sure, it was sad she died early, but I didn’t even remember her face. I couldn’t have any feelings for her.

She’d died when I was a baby. Realistically, what could changing the past even do?

The more I thought about it, the more this guy seemed like a scam artist.

I didn’t say it out loud, but I realized something else too.

I hadn’t thought about my birth mother because… someone else already cherished me enough.

Someone who always smiled warmly and patted my head like she’d forgive me no matter what I did—Calista.

“But—!”

Bang!

I closed the kitchen door without hesitation, leaving Igard behind with a stunned expression.

…Only later, back in my room, did I regret forgetting to grab a snack.

* * *

“You’ve lost weight since yesterday.”

Calista pinched my cheek and pulled it. Contrary to her words, my cheek stretched endlessly.

“Mweyeo.” (Muffled speech)

“No way. Yesterday, I could grab more. Did you skip a meal?”

“I didn’t get my snacks.”

I took the opportunity to voice my hardship. Her deep blue eyes widened.

“Is that true?”

Before I could even answer, she opened a drawer and pulled out a package.

“Eat this. Butter cookies from the empire’s most famous baker. I asked for double the sugar.”

“Wow!”

Seeing how happy I was, she unwrapped the cookies and set them out on plates for easy eating.

“…I’ve seen many strange things in my life, but this takes the cake.”

Aramis, seated on the opposite sofa, looked at us in disbelief.

“You mean cute. The only strange thing is your face.”

Vittoria, sitting beside him, replied sweetly.

“Isn’t it strange that our lady is offering double-sugar cookies to someone else?”

Aramis continued undeterred.

“She used to destroy or burn things before she’d share them.”

Vittoria looked at me with puffed-up cheeks.

“With such an adorable little sister beside her, how could she not share? Here, say ah~”

She fed me a piece of cookie.

Nom.

“Eat well, little one,” Vittoria beamed.

“Your turn. Here.”

She picked up another piece and handed it to Aramis, who, flustered, gave it to me again.

Nom.

Who cared who gave it to me? The piece was big—I was satisfied.

Aramis’s lips twitched.

He tried not to smile, but it was clear he couldn’t fully control his face.

“See? You smiled because it was cute.”

“No, that’s not it.”

He shook his head vigorously as Vittoria pointed it out. Clenching his jaw, he returned to his serious expression.

“It’s only natural for a child to eat well.”

He calmly reached for his teacup.

“Didn’t I teach you to admit the truth, Aramis?” Calista said, placing a hand on my head.

“My little sister is extremely cute.”

“Pfft! Cough!”

Aramis ended up spitting his tea and coughing.

“If you’re going to cough, do it in another room,” Calista frowned.

“You got spit on my cute sister’s dress.”

“Barely,” I replied, looking down at it. Aramis had turned his head in time.

“Not even a drop is acceptable. Let’s toss this and buy a new outfit tomorrow.”

Calista said firmly. Aramis sighed deeply, dumbfounded.

“You’re clearly using this as an excuse to go out.”

“If you know that, shut it. And before that, report on the bandit extermination at Mount Ersena. I believe I sent the 4th Knights.”

Calista pushed aside the empty cookie plate and pulled a stack of documents toward her.

Since becoming the acting Duke, she had been immersed in her work.

She rarely practiced swordsmanship now, and apart from calling me for a snack once a day, she was always buried in paperwork.

This was the first mention of going out in ten days.

“I received a report from the vice-captain today. They found a mountain base that had gone undetected for three years. It’ll be cleared out soon.”

“And the monster outbreak in the western territory?”

“The 2nd Knights are on their way back. All dealt with. Even the eggs were destroyed to prevent regrowth.”

“Reward them.”

“Yes.”

Their conversation moved faster than usual.

Even though it sounded like they were accomplishing great feats, their exchange remained brief and dry.